The framework was simple–50 speakers, over 500 attendees and 12 questions–but the content was relatively weighty. Simon Collin’s first Fashion Culture Design unconference proved to be a success as a crowd of industry trailblazers, global leaders, students, and teachers convened at Parsons School of Design to discuss key issues about the fashion industry at large. Subjects from sustainability and fashion week to social media and millennials were all discussed in an “unfiltered” environment. Unfiltered that is except when “swear words” such as disruption, influencers, or game changer were used on stage, a donation to MSF (Doctors Without Borders) was made.
One of the most intriguing conversations revolved around the structure and strategy behind fashion week–a hot topic of discussion lately with the release of CFDA and The Boston Consulting Group’s study. The fashion calendar is comprised of a heavy, labor-intensive schedule that exhausts designers to produce collections at a rapid rate of 5 times per year (Spring RTW, Fall RTW, Pre-Fall, Resort, and Couture). Today, a lot of designers are breaking the cycle and designing “buy now, wear now” collections. A lot of brands are experimenting with these new opportunities(to design on their own schedule) to figure the best way to sell to their target consumers. Furthermore, many designers are straying away from the extravagant runway show, opting for a more personal and intimate presentation. The industry is at a pivotal stage of transition and the need for organization, communication, and structure is paramount.

Innovation is at the core of resolving these issues and fashion tech apps such as Last Look can aid in the motion towards a more efficient fashion calendar. Brands such as Rebecca Minkoff, Tom Ford and Burberry have implemented a “see now, buy now” sales strategies where products are instantly available for sale once they hit the runway. Through Last Look images can be edited internally and approved quickly so they are readily available for the consumer to purchase on their website, social media or elsewhere. The industry is evolving, download Last Look and don’t get left behind.